Supervisors info:
Χασιακού-Αργυράκη Αφροδίτη, Λέκτορας Προϊστορικής Αρχαιολογίας, τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Παπαδάτος Ιωάννης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Προϊστορικής Αρχαιολογίας, τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Λώλος Ιωάννης, Καθηγητής Προϊστορικής Αρχαιολογίας, τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων
Summary:
Τhis essay examines the role of wine in mycenaean palatial economy. Aim of this essay is the prominence of wine at all levels of an agricultural economy, such as the mycenaean (from viticulture till consumption of the beverage) especially in palatial context. Except of wine management inside the wider context of mycenaean palatial economy, a penetration is attempted in other issues, such as viticulture, the absence of wine presses in mainland Greece, the correlation of wine with specific ceramic shapes and the search of its different varieties during LBA. For this purpose, information is drawn not only from the archaeological but also from the epigraphic evidence of Linear B documents and from parallels (either contemporary or subsequent) of the Mediterranean. The present essay is focused only on evidence from three palatial centers of mainland Greece (Mycenae, Pylos, Thebes), since the island of Crete is a different cultural unit.
In the first chapter, a theoretical approach in mycenaean economy will be held, emphasizing in the role of palaces, which constituted its main mechanism. The period, during which vine and wine started to be cultivated and produced in Greek world, is the next issue that is examined. This examination is based at the archaeologic remnants of vine. Emphasis will be given at the decisive 3rd millennium, during which wider changes in the Aegean world are noticed, that could be associated with the introduction of some innovations, such as the increasing consumption of wine and in general of alcoholic beverages. In addition to the analyzes, the texts of Linear B and the references of the Homeric epics are necessary for the research.
In the third chapter, epigraphic evidence which is related to wine, such as the origin of the ideogram and general information about viticulture, is examined. In the fourth chapter, a concurrent examination of archaeological and epigraphic evidence is attempted in order to be approached fields like the production, storage, transport and consumption of wine. Here sectors are examined, such as the lack of evidence on wine production in mainland Greece and where it may have taken place, the types of vessels associated with the above sectors, as well as the shipwreck loads of eastern Mediterranean in LBA, part of which were probably vases full of wine. In this context, all documents from the Mycenaean palatial centers, which state the terms related to wine, are collected in the form of a list and a brief description of their contents will be made. In the fifth chapter, the data are synthesized, in order to show the diverse character of wine and to arrive at the final conclusions of the study concerning the position of this liquid product in mycenaean palatial economy.
Keywords:
wine, mycenaean economy, palace, pottery, varieties, Linear B, tablets, sealings
